The Virginia General Assembly meets once a year, on the second Wednesday in January. The assembly lasts for 30 days (odd years) or 60 days (even years), and can be extended as necessary for up to 30 extra days. It is composed of the Virginia House of Delegates (100 members) and the Virginia State Senate (40 members).

The Supreme Court of Virginia is one of the oldest continuous judicial bodies in the United States. Although the Virginia State Supreme Court has both original jurisdiction (the power to hear cases that have yet to be heard) and appelate jurisdiction (the power to review cases that have been heard by a lower court), its primary function is to review decisions of lower courts, including the Court of Appeals. The term for a judge is 12 years (expiration dates in parentheses). Up to five retired Justices may, at the Court’s option, serve as Senior Justices for renewable one year terms. Senior Justices typically sit regularly on writ panels and will sit on merit cases, occasionally authoring opinions, when an active Justice is recused or otherwise unable to sit.